Observation of the Expression of HCV NS 5 Antigen in vitro by the SABC Immunological Techniques and Gold·labeled Colloid Electron M icroscopy Method

To study the expression of HCV non．structure 5 antigen in vitro，a human HepG2 cell Iine was incubated with a HCV RNA positive serum．The SABC immunologieaI techniques and gold．1abeled colloid electron microscopy method were employed tO examine for the viral proteins in those calls．The HCV non．structure 5 antigen was first detected in the HepG2 cells at 72 hours poSt ineubation．The antigen WaS continuously observed in the cytoplasm or on the membrane O．S we1I on the eell wall of the HepG2 ceils even after 1．2，3 and 4 weeks post incubation．The observation of HCV non．structure 5 antigen continuously expressed in the HepG2 cells strongly indicates that the cells may have been in． fected bv HCV virus and the virus ma y have replicated in the ce lls．Therefore．the HepG2 eell line may be served as a potentiM host for establishment of HCV infection and propagation in vitro